Finance Graduate Review

My experience at Royal Mail Group has been extremely positive and development‑focused. Joining in October 2025 during a period of major organisational change - including the introduction of EP Group as the new parent reporting structure - has created a fast‑paced and engaging environment.
Alongside work, I am also studying CIMA at Management Level, having skipped the Foundation and Operational levels due to exemptions from my university course. Balancing professional studies with the demands of External Reporting has been challenging at times, but the practical exposure has massively supported my learning.
I’ve felt well‑supported, trusted with real responsibility, and encouraged to contribute meaningfully, which has made my early experience both motivating and rewarding.

I am currently in my first rotation within the External Reporting team, where my responsibilities include:
- Preparing components of statutory financial statements and supporting notes
- Supporting consolidation workings for Royal Mail Group
- Assisting with the set‑up of EP Group parent‑company reporting, which is new for the organisation
- Performing analytical reviews and variance analysis
- Supporting the year‑end process, audit queries, and evidence pack preparation
- Maintaining control schedules and documentation for external disclosures
What I enjoy most is the blend of technical accounting, problem‑solving, and exposure to genuine business‑critical reporting.
Studying CIMA Management Level in parallel has also deepened my appreciation of the work - the syllabus links directly to what I’m doing day‑to‑day, especially around performance management, risk, governance, and financial reporting. It’s rare to get this level of alignment so early in my career.

I feel genuinely valued by my team, especially given the responsibility I’ve been trusted with so early. I support tasks that directly feed into statutory accounts, group consolidation, and EP Group submissions - all of which are critical deliverables.
The team seeks my input, gives me clear ownership of workstreams, and regularly involves me in discussions around risks, deadlines, and accounting judgements.
Managing these responsibilities while progressing through CIMA Management Level has also helped me feel like I’m contributing meaningfully to the wider finance function and not just performing graduate‑level tasks.

The compensation package is fair and competitive for a graduate role, particularly given the level of responsibility I’ve had during year‑end and the EP Group transition.
The benefits I value most are:
- CIMA study support, which is especially valuable as I’m progressing through the Management Level and benefiting from my previous exemptions. This is a major financial and developmental advantage.
- Pension scheme and annual leave, both strong compared with other graduate schemes.
- MyBenefits platform and employee discounts, which genuinely help with everyday costs.
- Travel Allowance, which helps towards travels costs - whether it be everyday travelling to the office or visits to other offices around the UK.
Overall, the package reflects both the workload and the professional development support on offer.

This role is preparing me exceptionally well for a long‑term career in finance. Being exposed to statutory reporting, audit processes, consolidation, and new organisational reporting structures (EP Group) provides a strong technical foundation.
At the same time, progressing through CIMA Management Level - having already secured exemptions for the earlier levels - is accelerating my professional development and helping me build a strategic understanding earlier than most graduates.
The blend of technical, analytical, and organisational experience is giving me a well‑rounded skill set that will be valuable whether I move into pricing, commercial finance, FP&A, or treasury in future rotations.

The support I’ve received so far has been strong across HR, my line manager, and my mentor. HR have been clear and responsive, especially in guiding me through onboarding, benefits, and study support for CIMA Management Level. My line manager has been one of the biggest positives - they check in regularly, give constructive feedback, and ensure I have the context and tools needed to deliver during a very busy reporting period.
My mentor and wider team have also been invaluable, particularly when learning the External Reporting processes and adapting to the EP Group reporting changes. The only thing that could enhance the experience would be slightly more structured graduate-specific support, but overall I’ve felt very well supported.

Work‑life balance has generally been good, especially considering the nature of External Reporting and the timing of joining just ahead of year‑end. During peak periods, hours have naturally increased, but the team has been considerate and transparent about workload expectations.
Balancing year‑end responsibilities with studying CIMA Management Level has been demanding, but still manageable. Outside of peak reporting cycles, flexibility is good, and the hybrid working approach supports well being. Overall, I feel the organisation recognises the importance of a healthy balance even in high‑pressure periods.

The culture at Royal Mail Group is collaborative, friendly, and grounded. Even though I joined during a major transition (EP Group reporting + Royal Mail Group year‑end), people have been approachable and willing to help. The atmosphere in finance is supportive, and being trusted with real responsibility early on has made me feel part of the team rather than “just a graduate.”
Hybrid working is well-embedded, and my team balances office days and home days effectively, which helps with both collaboration and focus time. The culture is inclusive and welcoming, though some processes still feel like they’re adapting to the organisational changes underway.

Royal Mail Group emphasises equality, diversity, and inclusion, and this has been visible through internal communications, awareness campaigns, and the inclusive approach within my team. I’ve found the culture open and respectful, where diverse views and backgrounds are welcomed.
While I haven’t personally taken part in many EDI‑specific events yet due to workload and timing, the initiatives that I have seen demonstrate commitment, and the organisation seems genuinely focused on creating a fair and accessible environment. As I progress, I’d like to get more directly involved in some of the programmes.

Yes

I would recommend Royal Mail Group to a friend because the organisation provides strong early‑career development, meaningful responsibility from day one, and a supportive team environment. Joining during a period of major change - including the introduction of EP Group reporting and Royal Mail Group’s year‑end cycle - has given me exposure far beyond what I expected at this stage.
The culture is friendly, inclusive, and collaborative, and I’ve felt trusted with real work that contributes directly to statutory outputs. Balancing this with CIMA Management Level studies has been challenging, but the support from my manager, team, and HR has made it achievable. Overall, it’s been a genuinely positive and developmental experience.

The role has matched - and in many ways exceeded - what was described in the recruitment process. I expected a technical finance role with exposure to reporting, but I didn’t expect to be so deeply involved in key deliverables so early, especially during a period of organisational transition.
The recruitment team made it clear that the graduate scheme would provide responsibility and structured learning, and that has turned out to be entirely accurate. The link between the role and my CIMA Management Level qualification has also been stronger than I anticipated, which has helped me progress quickly.